Heroes & Villains

Richard Widmark

This Minnesota born tough guy worked in radio & on Broadway before making a big screen impression with his chilling Oscar nominated performance as Tommy Udo in the classic crime thriller “Kiss Of Death”. Starring roles followed for Richard in films such as “The Alamo”, “The Long Ships” & “Madigan”.

Kiss Of Death(1947) VHSSuperior "noir" crime thriller stars Victor Mature as a crook who turns state's evidence when his gang betrays him and leaves him to rot in jail. Richard Widmark, in his screen debut, is unforgettable as a sadistically giggling killer with an affinity for wheelchair-bound ladies and staircases. With Coleen Gray, Brian Donlevy, Karl Malden. 99 min. Broken Lance(1954) VHSFrontier cattle ranch patriarch Spencer Tracy's harsh, unemotional upbringing of his four sons leads to violent confrontation between siblings in this emotional Western drama that is part "King Lear" and part "Bonanza." Robert Wagner, Richard Widmark, Hugh O'Brian and Earl Holliman are the brothers; with Katy Jurado, Jean Peters. 96 min. The Law And Jake Wade(1958) VHSIntense Western drama starring Robert Taylor as a former bank robber who now works as a lawman in a New Mexico town. When he discovers that ex-partner Richard Widmark is about to be hung, he stops the execution, but a less-than-grateful Widmark forces Taylor to help him find loot hidden years earlier. Henry Silva, Patricia Owens, DeForest Kelley co-star; John Sturges ("The Magnificent Seven") directs. 86 min. The Tunnel Of Love(1958) VHSThis sparkling romantic comedy teams Doris Day and Richard Widmark as a married couple whose experiences adopting a child result in a series of hilarious episodes. Gig Young, Gia Scala, Elizabeth Wilson and Doodles Weaver star. 98 min. Cheyenne Autumn(1964) VHSThe final Western from director John Ford, this powerful, sweeping drama follows a band of Cheyenne Indians' perilous trek as they leave a squalid Oklahoma reservation to return to their ancestral land in Wyoming, an odyssey threatened by the U.S. Calavry. Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Ricardo Montalban, Edward G. Robinson and James Stewart star. Uncut, 158-minute version.

Book Description:This first-ever book on actor Richard Widmark focuses on the life of the durable leading man whose career has spanned four decades. Respecting his subject's reputation for privacy, Holston directs his study toward the professional events in Widmark's life, providing complete credits for work in radio, on stage, on film, and in television. Also included are a biographical sketch, a listing of works available on video, a chronology, and an annotated bibliography of works about Widmark. Click the link below for more details: